How to Decorate a Thanksgiving Table: Tips for a Beautiful and Festive Setup

Hosting Thanksgiving is a big endeavor. I am all about doing as many tasks in advance as possible.

One task that is easy to do the day before - or even sooner - is setting the Thanksgiving table! This can be a great way to have your guests or kids help out to make things a little easier on you.

Whether you are planning a formal meal with multiple forks or a more casual gathering with disposable plates, you can still set a pretty table!

How to Decorate a Thanksgiving Table

There is a lot that you can do with your Thanksgiving table, but you can also make it really simple and straightforward while also being cute and seasonally appropriate. Here are the elements to consider when decorating your table for Thanksgiving!

Create a color scheme

The first thing that you want to do when you are designing your Thanksgiving table is to set a color scheme. By having everything be the same colors, it looks cohesive, even if you don't put a lot of other effort in. Common thanksgiving color schemes include:

• brown

• tan

• red

• orange

• white/beige

However, use any color you prefer! I suggest that you look at the decor that you already have on hand and choose a color scheme that works with those items. Ideally, choose 1 main color and 2-3 accent colors!

Table Covering

Next you will want to decide what kind of table covering you want to use.

The most obvious answer is a tablecloth. Just be careful to select something easily washable or disposable - spills are likely on Thanksgiving!

Another option is a table runner. Table runners are more narrow than your table and just add a stripe of fabric across the space.

This can go on a bare table or on top of a tablecloth. I love that table runners add texture and a pop of pattern, but also make sure they are washable!

Finally, you can consider using placemats. These can be, once again, layered on top of a tablecloth or used on their own. Placemats are a great way to anchor pretty place settings!

Centerpiece

Next, you might choose to add a centerpiece to your table. This is something that sits in the middle of the table, often florals, candles, or another decor item.

Before you commit to a centerpiece, consider how you will serve food. A large centerpiece might not leave enough room if you are planning to have all of the food on the table. But if you are going to have people make their plates in another area, this will work.

I also like to stay away from tall centerpieces which can block conversation across the table.

I love using natural elements for a thanksgiving centerpiece - flowers, pine cones, acorns, or branches are a great option for fall. They can also be super budget friendly - just gather them in the yard! It's a great job to assign to the kiddos - just make sure everything is clean and bug-free!

Be sure to check out all of my Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas!

Place Settings

Finally, consider the place setting. This is the plate and cutlery for each individual. A formal place setting might have a charger, a dinner plate, a salad plate, silverware, and a glass or two.

You can also set out napkins. They could be under the silverware or centered on the plate with a napkin ring!

If you plan to have people get their plates at the buffet line, you might still want to set out silverware and glasses at each spot.

Glassware

Don't forget to consider the glasses you will have at dinner. A water glass for each place is a must!

If you plan to serve wine or sparkling cider, decide based on the crowd if you should let people self-serve or assume everyone wants a glass at their place.

Have extra drinking glasses on hand if you plan to serve other drinks like tea, lemonade, or cocktails.

And don't forget to have plastic cups - and straws, please! - if you are hosting small kids.

Place cards

Place cards are totally optional but a great way to make people feel special at Thanksgiving. You can simply fold a rectangle of paper in half for easy place cards.

Or, get creative and write names on leaves, gift tags, or even small crafts made by your kids!

The decorations on your Thanksgiving table aren't what really matters. It's all about being together on this special day.

But, if you want to make a beautiful table, hopefully these tips got you started in the right direction!